Baylor College of Medicine Program

The Baylor College of Medicine Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship is a distinguished one-year (PGY-5) training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education since 2008. This program provides a comprehensive, evidence-based education focused on the diagnosis, intervention, and treatment of addictive disorders. Fellows in this program will gain expertise in managing addiction through a systems-based approach, collaborating effectively with patients, families, and various healthcare professionals to ensure a thorough continuum of care. Upon successful completion, fellows will be eligible to sit for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology’s certification examination in addiction psychiatry, enjoying a commendable 100 percent pass rate on the exam

Curriculum Overview

The fellowship accommodates four fellows annually, with each year divided into two six-month blocks. The first block comprises clinical rotations between the Harris County Health System and The Menninger Clinic. At Harris Health, fellows manage addiction-specific cases in the Emergency Department and participate in outpatient treatments within the Substance/Addiction Treatment Program. Additional unique experiences include rotations in Obstetrics-Addictions and Child and Adolescent Addiction Psychiatry. The Menninger Clinic offers invaluable experiences in both inpatient and outpatient settings, focusing on addiction treatment alongside formal assessment and consultation opportunities.

The second block consists of rotations shared between the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center and various community affiliates, including the Montrose Center and Santa Maria Hostel. At the VA Medical Center, fellows will engage in chemical dependency groups, the Opioid Treatment Program, and acute withdrawal management. The Montrose Center specifically provides outpatient work with an LGBTQ population, while Santa Maria Hostel focuses on aiding women facing addiction during perinatal and postpartum periods. This structure equips fellows with comprehensive training across multiple settings to address substance use disorders effectively.

Didactic Curriculum

Baylor College of Medicine emphasizes academic learning through regular didactic sessions. Fellows are encouraged to participate in Grand Rounds and the Journal Club conducted by Baylor Psychiatry. Furthermore, the program includes weekly didactics focusing on various facets of addiction, combining both clinical practice and theoretical knowledge. Significant components of the didactic curriculum include the Fundamentals of Addictions course, covering the neurobiology of addiction and treatment modalities, and the Psychotherapeutics of Addiction course, which educates fellows on different psychotherapy techniques.

Research Opportunities

The Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship provides robust opportunities for engagement in research. Mentors guide fellows in research and quality improvement projects, involving a network of psychiatric researchers, geneticists, and immunologists. Trainees can participate in pharmacotherapy clinical trials, explore pharmacogenetics, and conduct neuroimaging studies. The program also leverages data from both The Menninger Clinic and Harris Health to support fellows’ research initiatives. It fosters a rich environment for scholarly contributions, evident from various publications authored by fellows across diverse topics.

Teaching and Mentorship

Fellows play an influential role in educating medical students and residents. Opportunities for teaching include delivering lectures in a 14-lecture seminar on addictions for PGY-1 residents, and providing education during the consultation/liaison rotations. Throughout their training, fellows receive formal feedback on their teaching skills and mentorship from clinical faculty, facilitating their growth as educators in the field.

Training Sites

The diverse training sites offer fellows an enriching experience. The Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center is a comprehensive facility offering a full continuum of addiction care, impacting over 130,000 veterans annually. The Menninger Clinic, less than seven miles from the primary site, provides advanced psychiatric assessments and treatment for various mental health disorders, including addiction. Fellows also train within the Harris Health System, known for its integrated healthcare services catering to the population of Harris County, along with specialized community settings like the Montrose Center and Santa Maria Hostel, which target specific populations with unique challenges related to addiction.

Visa Support

The Baylor College of Medicine Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship supports international medical graduates by providing visa sponsorship. The program typically sponsors J-1 and H-1B visas, facilitating international fellows to participate in this advanced training, contributing to the diversity of the program.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

Being a highly competitive program, the fellowship welcomes applications from a diverse pool of candidates, including MD and DO graduates. However, particular attention is given to eligibility requirements such as the completion of a general psychiatry residency, submission of relevant credentials (curriculum vitae, personal statement, letters of recommendation, and USMLE scores), and licensure eligibility in Texas. The program has no specific GPA cutoffs or restrictions on the maximum number of failed STEP exams, promoting inclusivity within the application process.